The Best, Worst, and Most Rihanna Looks at the Met Gala

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It can be hard, in the moment of red-carpet jockeying, to remember that the Met Gala is not in fact an awards show, but a fund-raiser for a museum. The pressure is on to show that you are X designer’s muse, that you wore a fresh-off-the-runway (or better, custom) design, and that you can pull off a headdress whose weight falls squarely in the double digits — without toppling down the red carpet. It makes the Oscars look like child’s play, frankly.

Whether they went for feathers, shimmering gold hoodies, or pajamas, the competition was all over the place. Click through the slideshow to see our picks for the best, worst, and most “meh-ball” looks of the night.

Dress So Good It Didn't Need a Red Carpet: Beyoncé Never one to do things traditionally, Beyoncé premiered her sparkly opal Stone &... Dress So Good It Didn't Need a Red Carpet: Beyoncé Never one to do things traditionally, Beyoncé premiered her sparkly opal Stone "naked dress" and towering "I Dream of Jeannie" ponytail on Instagram first, making the red carpet debut seem like an afterthought. Photo: 2015 FilmMagic

Theme-iest Head: Sarah Jessica Parker Like a moth to a flaming headdress, SJP cannot resist a chance to call attention to her head and be on them... Theme-iest Head: Sarah Jessica Parker Like a moth to a flaming headdress, SJP cannot resist a chance to call attention to her head and be on theme. She did that faux-hawk at the punk-themed edition of this event two years ago, wore a tesseract-shaped creation to a casual luncheon, and has been known to sport Minnie Mouse ears on the step-and-repeat.
Photo: 2015 FilmMagic

Best Red-Carpet-to-Tarmac Look: Grace Coddington Classy, and FIRST-CLASS, the Vogue creative director told us she was wearing her comfy pj's-and-... Best Red-Carpet-to-Tarmac Look: Grace Coddington Classy, and FIRST-CLASS, the Vogue creative director told us she was wearing her comfy pj's-and-flats Michael Kors ensemble because she had to catch a flight immediately after cocktails. You could do worse in terms of airport dressing.
Photo: 2015 Getty Images

Pinkest: Kerry Washington It's understandable that after years of playing Olivia Pope — a woman who's practically in a long-term relationship wit... Pinkest: Kerry Washington It's understandable that after years of playing Olivia Pope — a woman who's practically in a long-term relationship with neutrals — Washington would lean toward all things feminine. This Prada confection is just that: as pretty and feminine as it gets.
Photo: 2015 Getty Images

Most "Meh" Ball: Kate Hudson, Allison Williams, Hailee Steinfeld Oscar-statuette gold and unadorned red (because CHINA!) don't make for... Most "Meh" Ball: Kate Hudson, Allison Williams, Hailee Steinfeld Oscar-statuette gold and unadorned red (because CHINA!) don't make for the most transporting gala looks, especially when there's a whole playground of exciting fashion to draw on. All of these women look pretty but have the potential to be much more daring.
Photo: Getty Images

Best Take on a Tricky Trend: Diane Kruger Sheer pants are no walk in the park, but Diane Kruger, in Chanel couture, nailed the landing.
Photo: 2...Best Take on a Tricky Trend: Diane Kruger Sheer pants are no walk in the park, but Diane Kruger, in Chanel couture, nailed the landing.
Photo: 2015 Getty Images

Best Dressed for 2013's Punk Rut: Miley Cyrus and Dree Hemingway This is one way to ignore a theme and, yet, not.
Photo: Getty Images

Worst Pun: Poppy Delevingne Though she looks pretty enough, having to listen to a socialite make jokes about opium and her own name all night wou... Worst Pun: Poppy Delevingne Though she looks pretty enough, having to listen to a socialite make jokes about opium and her own name all night would surely not delight her seatmates.
Photo: 2015 Getty Images

Most Dolce & Gabbana: Brie Larson, Courtney Eaton, and Annabelle Wallis They may never be royals, but this trio repped the designers' take on... Most Dolce & Gabbana: Brie Larson, Courtney Eaton, and Annabelle Wallis They may never be royals, but this trio repped the designers' take on infanta chic with their crowned, gilded looks. On theme? No. Memorable? Yes, especially when they're clumped together in a holy triumvirate.
Photo: 2015 Getty Images

Best Anna Wintour Sleeves: Anna Wintour After she ensconced herself in a Chanel shell at the 2008 gala, we should have known Wintour's love affai... Best Anna Wintour Sleeves: Anna Wintour After she ensconced herself in a Chanel shell at the 2008 gala, we should have known Wintour's love affair with shoulders was far from over. This look, also Chanel, sported a built-in exoskeleton.
Photo: 2015 Getty Images

Goin' for It Award: Tabitha Simmons There's something to be said for committing, and Simmons took that directive very seriously. We feel bad for ... Goin' for It Award: Tabitha Simmons There's something to be said for committing, and Simmons took that directive very seriously. We feel bad for whoever had to sit behind her at dinner — though mostly because they couldn't Instagram it.
Photo: 2015 Getty Images

Best Old Hollywood Inspiration: Lizzy Caplan Lizzy Caplan looks great in real life, but there's some kind of alchemy that happens when she steps ... Best Old Hollywood Inspiration: Lizzy Caplan Lizzy Caplan looks great in real life, but there's some kind of alchemy that happens when she steps onto the red carpet. She looks positively stately in this '30s-style Donna Karan.
Photo: 2015 Getty Images

Lushest Plumage: Keri Russell When everyone else was opting for sequins and embroidery, Russell swerved left with a feathery gown by Altuzarra th... Lushest Plumage: Keri Russell When everyone else was opting for sequins and embroidery, Russell swerved left with a feathery gown by Altuzarra that must have been even more gorgeous up close — those gradations of color!
Photo: 2015 Getty Images

Most Kris Jenner in the '80s: Kris Jenner Heavy contouring, clavicle-skimming earrings, and agressive shoulders give her a dated feel. It may be ... Most Kris Jenner in the '80s: Kris Jenner Heavy contouring, clavicle-skimming earrings, and agressive shoulders give her a dated feel. It may be an improvement over her "Amish" look, but not by much.
Photo: 2015 FilmMagic

Best May the Fourth Inspiration: Solange Knowles We're not exactly sure what's happening with this Giles Deacon ... UFO? ... but if anyone is goi... Best May the Fourth Inspiration: Solange Knowles We're not exactly sure what's happening with this Giles Deacon ... UFO? ... but if anyone is going to take their cues from a galaxy far, far away, it should be Solange, because she can truly do no wrong.
Photo: 2015 Getty Images

Worst May the Fourth Inspiration: Anne Hathaway Even George Lucas is mystified.

Most Appreciated Ghesquière Moment: Jennifer Connelly Just when the red carpet was beginning to feel like a sequined desert, there came an... Most Appreciated Ghesquière Moment: Jennifer Connelly Just when the red carpet was beginning to feel like a sequined desert, there came an oasis in the form of Jennifer Connelly, wearing a Louis Vuitton design. One look at this and you can see why she's Nicolas's muse. Photo: 2015 Getty Images

Worst Milkmaid: Selena Gomez We're striving to think of the occasion that might call for a mix of suspenders, a flower crown, and a white gown. A... Worst Milkmaid: Selena Gomez We're striving to think of the occasion that might call for a mix of suspenders, a flower crown, and a white gown. A farm-themed wedding at Coachella, maybe?
Photo: 2015 Getty Images

Best Date: Taraji P. Henson The only person who loves Cookie more than the Cut staff must be A. Wang. The designer doesn't just have good taste i... Best Date: Taraji P. Henson The only person who loves Cookie more than the Cut staff must be A. Wang. The designer doesn't just have good taste in pop culture; he enlisted the Empire star as his plus-one. Photo: 2015 FilmMagic

Most Adventurous Tux: Miguel Snaps to Miguel for eschewing the male dress code of "Chinese white tie" and showing up in a red Michael K... Most Adventurous Tux: Miguel Snaps to Miguel for eschewing the male dress code of "Chinese white tie" and showing up in a red Michael Kors suit.
Photo: 2015 Getty Images

Most '90s Minimalist: Constance Jablonski Here's a way to channel the theme that is the furthest thing possible from gaudy. Jablonski's two-piece... Most '90s Minimalist: Constance Jablonski Here's a way to channel the theme that is the furthest thing possible from gaudy. Jablonski's two-piece pants look is the ultimate cool-girl move. And those shoes actually look comfortable — how often does that phrase come up at the Met Gala?
Photo: 2015 Getty Images

Ever-Unchanging: The Olsens The Olsens see your red and gold finery and raise you a Morticia mirror moment. Never change, ladies. Never change.